Casting machine



Vpril 27, 1954 P. J. HEIDEN ET AL 2,676,368 CASTING MACHINE Filed Jan. 14, 1950 9 Sheets-Sheet l April 27, 1954 P. J. HEIDEN ET AL 2,676,368

CASTING MACHINE Filed Jan. 14, 195C 9 Sheets-Sheet 2 CASTING MACHINE 9 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed Jan. 14, 1950 April 27, 1954 P. J. HEIDEN ET Al.

CASTING MACHINE 9 Sheets-Sheet 4 Filed Jan. 14, 1950 ApriI 27, 1954 P. J. HEIDEN x-:TAL

CASTING MACHINE 9 Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed Jan. 14, 1950 lApril 27, 1954r P, J. HEIDEN ETAL 2,675,358

CASTING MACHINE Filed Jan. 14, Y195o 9 sheets-sheet e ....Lrll IILLVV.

o A oooooooo'- v April 27, 1954 P. J. HEIDEN ETAL CASTING MACHINE 9 Sheets-Sheet 7 Filed Jan. 14, 1950 April 27, 1954 P. J. HEIDEN ET AL CASTING MACHINE 9 Sheets-Sheet 8 Filed Jan. 14, 1950 'April 27, 1954 P. J. HEIDEN ET AL CASTING MACHINE 9 Sheets-Sheet 9 Filed Jan. 14, 1950 wm W w 6 Ms Q S m. 1 l @Q i S m i. .1. Q w x n ww Q n NLM n u l lr.\ Q, SMN. wm. .N w. .NN \w kx Q l R m Q n w wm. S LJ wm w e N w www Q www w Q w N 5. N Y N E IN* bh. v v P Patented Apr. 27, 1954 tiene CASTING MACHINE Peter J. Heiden, Herman J.l Staggenburg, Clarence E. Tice, and Edgar G. Richardson, Anderson, Ind., assignors to General Motors Corporation, ware Detroit, Mich., a corporation of Dela- Ap'plicanon. January 14, 195o, serial No. 138,595 z claims. (o1. :a2- 57) This invention relates to the manufacture of castings of ferrous metal bymeans of a permanent mold casting machine.

The objects of the invention are to provide certain improvements in the type of permanent mold casting machine shown in the Leo C. Shippy Patent No. 1,925,497.

lA still further object of the invention is to provide an electrical interlock in the operating Vsystem of the machine whereby a dened sequence. of operations must occur, said sequence being as follows; the air is rst turned on for the operation of the servomotors, then the blowers for the cooling and Ventilating equipment are energized and finally the main driving motor for the machine is brought into operation. In this manner, the machine cannot be operated at any time unless the air pressure for activating the servomotors and the Ventilating equipment is in operation. This sequence of operations eliminates burn-outs, loss of metal and other undesirable conditions.

In carrying out the above object, it is another object of the invention to provide an additional electrical interlock connecting the blow'foif` andl sootingdevices with the driving means for the machine whereby if the machine is not' in operative condition, the blowoii and sooting devices are not operative therebyconserving gas and air. Another object is to provide reliable means for igniting the gas which is used to supply a sootcoatingV to the dies. y

Another object of the invention is to provide guard means for the ignition device used in connection with the sooting equipment for preventingoverheating of the ignition device during` the sootingoperation. *Another object of the invention is to provide adjustable meansA for controlling' the valve which dominates the flow of gas to theso'oting device whereby the 'cost of operation may be held to a minimum by proper adjustment so that thegas supply-forthe sooting device is vonly permitted to be open for a predetermined period during which the mold is being sooted. A Further objects andi advantagescf'the present invention will be apparent fromthe following description, reference being hadv to" the accompanying drawings, whereinv a preferred embodiment of the present inventionv is clearly shown. In the drawings: Fig.4 1 is a plan view of the machine. Figs. 2 and 3' together comprise a fragment of the 'plan View drawn to a larger scale than'Fig. l.

' Figs. 4'v and 5 are sectionall views takenrespectively on lines L-,d and "5*5 o fFi'g. 2.

Fig.. 6 is a view in the direction of arrow 6 of Fig. 3 of a movable die supportingframe 8l.

Figs. 7 and 8, taken together, constitute a sectional view on the` line 1 1 of Figs. 2 and 3.

Fig. 9, on the same sheet with Fig. '7, is a sectional view on line 9--9 of Fig. 7.

Fig. 10, on the same sheet with Fig. 8, is a side view of one of the beams or spokes of the machine.

Fig. 11 is a view in the direction of arrow Il of Fig. 10.

Figs. 12 and 13 are,y respectively, sectional views on lines l2`|2 and I 3-13 of Fig. 10.

Fig. l14 is a view in the direction of arrow' i4 of Fig. 3 of a `fixed mold supporting frame 6l.

Figs. 15 and 16 are' views looking respectively in the direction of'arrow i5 of Fig. 14.

Fig. 17 is a ,sectional view on line i'i-I'l of Fig. 14. y

Fig. 18,1s a view on the line l8-l8 of Fig. 8, showing one ofthe outer or fixed dies 94. The part in section (Fig. 18') is on the line 18a of Fig. 19.

Fig. ,19 is a sectional View of xed and movable dies taken onth'e` liney I9-9` of Fig. 18.

Fig; 20 is a diagram of the machine and means for driving it together with a hood |40 enclosing pipes used for purposes to be described, said hood being in section on line 2'0-20 of Fig. 1.

Fig.,2'1` is an"enl'arged view in the direction of arrow 2| of Fig. 22 showing means for adjustably supporting pipes within the hood.

Fig.y 22 is' a sectional view` on the line 22-22 of Fig. 21.

Fig. 23 is` a view in the direction of arrow 23 of Fig. 1', but' drawn to a 'smaller scale; and it shows one ofthe 'chai-n curtains Hi8 through which the dies move'on entering and leaving the hood. Figi.' 24E' is' acaml diagram.'

Fig. 25' isa diagram'of an electric' timer.

Fig. 26 isi a wiring d'iagrar'nof the controlsof the machine which include the timer shown in Fig. 25.

Referring to Figs. 7 and 8, the mach-ine has.

a base 3d to which screws 3'! attacha pedestal 31T' providing bearingsv 33 for a shaft 34 attached to a hub'p35 by' screws 36' covered by plate 3T attached by screw 38 to shaft 34. The weight of' the shaf'tandthe' hub and' parts supported thereby is: transmitted to the pedestal and base by thrust bearing'39f retained by the pedestal. To; exclude dust fromy the bearing 39, the pedestal supports a sealringd'i retained by a band il, said ringv being eng'agedfby the Ihub 35 as it rotates.

Referring to Fig. 20, an electric motor 50 mounted on a base drives a fixed ratio speed reducer 52 which drives a variable ratio speed reducer 53 mounted on base 30 and driving a gear 54 meshing with a ring gear 55 which, as shown in Fig. '7, is connected by screws 56 with hub 35.

Beams or spokes S0 (Figs. 2 and 3) which extend radially from the hub and support yat their outer ends fixed die supporting frames 3|, each providing an air passage 62 (Fig. 8) closed at the bottom by a cover `E33 (removable for clean out) and having an inlet 64 and two outlets 55 each connected through an inlet 66 (Fig. 10) with a passage e1 in a beam 60 Whose outlet is connected, as shown in Fig. 2, with a hole 68 provided in the side wall of hub 35.

Beams (Fig. 2) have integral shelves 10 which support rails 1| which receive grooved wheels 12 (Fig. 4) supported by a rod 13 through the medium of dust sealed ball bearings 14 (Fig. 8). Rod 13 supports a carriage 15 connected with guide rods 1G slidable in bearings 11 provided by a frame 18 attached to beams 60. Rods 16 are connected with tubular bosses (Fig. 3) of a movable die supporting frame 8| providing an air passage 82 (Fig. 8) having an inlet at 83 and an outlet connected with a pipe 84 attached to frame 8| and extending through a hole 35 (Fig. '7) in the side wall of hub 35. Pipe 84 is supported by hub 35 for sliding movement relative thereto.

Hub 35 supports a ring plate 8B supporting a sleeve 81 which, through the medium of a ring bearing 88, supports a sleeve rotation of which is prevented by means to be described. Sleeve 90 is connected with vertical pipe, not shown, leading to the intake of a suction fan or blower (not shown) driven by a motor |80 (Fig. 26). This blower induces the circulation of air in the general direction represented by arrows 9| (Fig. 8) and downwardly past radiating pins 92 integral with permanent mold members 93 and 94 supported on bars 95 attached to frames 8| and 6| and attached thereto by screws 36 (Fig. 3). As indicated by arrows 91, air flows into the passages 32 and 62 of frames 8| and 5|, respectively, and thence through the passages described to the interior of hub 35. Hub 35 is provided with bafes 98 to help equalize the distribution of the suction effect with respect to the molds 93 and 94. So long as the machine is in operates to cause the circulation of air for cooling the molds.

Each pair of molds is closed and opened by a compressed air servo-motor including a cylinder $00 (Figs. 2 and '7) supported by a frame 18 and containing a piston connected by rod |0| and nuts i9 la with a carriage 15. Each cylindersupports its own control valve |92, the intake of which is connected by a curved pipe |03 (Fig..2) and a shut-off valve |94 with an arcuatepipe |05 of the compressed air distributing manifold which includes a cross pipe |05 (Fig. 2) which is connected with a centrally located pipe |01 (Fig. 7) connected by a swivelcoupling |08 with a iixed pipe |09 which can be connected in any suitable manner with a source of compressed air, not shown. Fach valve 102 has one distributing port connected with an inner end of cylinder |00 and another distributing "port connected by a bent pipe it! with the outer end of the cylinder. The pipes |03 and i0 are bent. as shown in Fig. 2, in order to facilitate the making of connections by the use with the couplings The machine, being made with interchangeable parts, it is a relatively simple matter to remove the unit which com operation the blower fa@- closing the mold `section prises a frame 18, a cylinder |00, a carriage |35 and a mold frame il These units can be individually removed from the machine after the molds 93 and 94 have been removed and after cylinder |00 is disconnected from pipe |03.

Each valve |02 has an operating handle H2 which, as shown in Fig. 7, has been placed in posir tion for causing the valve |02 to admit compressed air to the rear end of cylinder 200 so that the piston therein moves outwardly and causes the mold 93 to be brought into engagement with mold 94. Handle I2 has been moved into this position automatically during a lportion of the rotary movement of hub 35 into a counterclockwise direction (Figs. l and 2). This is effected by the engagement of handle ||2 with a curved cam bar ||3 attached at its ends to angles ||4 adjustably supported by brackets ||5 attached to the nxed sleeve 90. Each bracket ||5 has a slot H5 received by a screw ||1 passing through an angle H4 and receiving a nut ||8 whereby the rod ||3 can be clamped in the desired position of adjustment as shown inFig. 24. A rod H3', supported in the same manner as rod |3, is used for moving the handle |2 counterclockwise (Fig. 7) about its pivot |2a, in order to condition valve |02 for admitting compressed air tothe outer end of cylinder |00 in order that movable mold 93 will be retracted from the xed mold 94.

Each pair of molds including the movable mold 33 and the fixed mold 94 are adjustable with respect to one another so that perfect mating of the faces of the two mold sections may be obtained. This is accomplished by providing pads 93 and 94 on mold parts 33 and 94, respectively. Four of the pads 93 and 94' are provided at the corners of each mold part. The pads 93', which are integral with the movable mold 93, merely abut the die supporting frame 8|. The mold 93 is held in place by means of bolts 96 which pass through the frame and into the threaded ears 93a on the movable mold part 93. Adjustments for the alignment of the mold parts 93 and 94 are carried out entirely with respect to the stal tionary mold 94. This mold includes threaded ears 94a which receive bolts passing through the die supporting frame 6| as noted in Fig. 14 where the frame 6| is shown in some detail. These bolts are drawn up rather loosely and then screws 35', of which four are provided and which also pass through frame 6|, are adjusted against the pads 94 to exactly align the mold 94 with the mold 93. This is most easily done by permitting the mold 94 to be loosely hung on the frame 6| and then p by causing themovable intoftight engagement with the stationarysection 94, after which the adjustment screws 95' may., allbe Atightened and finally the bolts passing `into thethreaded ears94a may be tightened to set the adjustment for perfect mating of the sections of the two mold parts 93 and 94. In ordertoI coni-lne the mold cooling air to the vicinity of the radiatingpins 92 of the molds, the frame 8| has an integral plate |20 (Fig. 8) extending close to the pins 92; and for the same purpose, plate |2| is attached to the frame 6|, The molds when brought together form cavities |22, there being two cavities in the molds shown. The molds, when together, provide a funnel |23 into which molten metal is poured, said funnel having branch .passages (not shown) connected with the cavities |22. The molds, when together, provide vents y|24 for these cavities. If any metal happens to .spill over the side of the funnel |23 it will gravitate' from the tops of the molds and from section93V to move deectors |25, which-are spaced-sulcientlyftrom theguard plates |20 and |251: so; that: it is unlikely that any metal will be picked up: liny'thel air` and drawn in by the. cooling lair stream.- and be depcsited upon the radiatingV pins; 92;. The: molds may be shaped for casting, for' example, starter drive housings of electric startingmotors-f tor use on automobiles., For this :purposaY it isnecessary to provide cores.. These. cores; such. as G imFig. 8, are supported'uponflugs |130` of a. lever [3| pivoted on rods- |32 which,v as. shown in Fig." 19:l are supported by the fixedy mold. 94".. Liever- |3z| has. an arm: |33y providing a vsocket for receiving a rod |154 confined in the. socket by screw |535. Each lever |34. extends through-a. slot.4 |36 (Fig. 1.4)v in frame el and supports a counterweight |31, the mass of which isv sufficient to urge the core C upwardly against a ledge` |38' of the. mold 914 asv shown. in Fig. 8, said ledgebeing part'l oi-the mold which extends over to the. core softhati the casting' will have a hole therein communicating with the hollow interior cfv the. casting.l 'Upon separating the molds after forming a casting, the castings. may be ejectedfrom thel molds: in 'any suitable manner. Y

Referring to Fig. 1,. there isshown a'machine having twelve pairs of permanentmolds; the machine can be adapted by-su-itablearrangement of the valve. controlling cams |f3, |.|3:" and |"I3A for the closing and openingof they molds at different times during rotation ofvl the huby by controlling .the valve |52 through levers |'|2. As the-hubrotates, it moves. a: pair of open-dies past stations indicated by dot-dashf radi-alv lines` marked Sta etc., reading in.l acountercl'ockwise direction. While a pair of molds passesSta. 1', compressed air isl blown upon the mold surfaces` to clean them. At station 2, a sooty flame is caused to playjon the mold surfacesl in order tocoat them .with soot so that 'the castings will' not adherev toi-'the molds. Atstation 3, the operator-sets''thel vcores by placingv them upon the lugs |f30 of klevers 3|, as shown in Fig. 8. The molds are closed ati-sta;- tion 5 and remain closed' throughstation-v 81; As the moldsl passv between stations. 6T and '13 'their cavities are nlled with molten metal. About' 15P past station 7, the valve |02 is brought to-neutral position by a cam.v H3A operating: againstflever |12. This permits` free shrinkage oi" the casting and molds and equalization ofpressures at opposite sides of the mold.v` It is importantto'the manufacture of good vcastings and prevents shrinkage, cracks, broken dies, etc.; to a5 large degree. After passing station 8; the* mold! begins to open, as shown at stationy 9i; andtheyaregcom; pletely open at station 10; andfremaifn opens at sta-tions l1. and" 12so that 'anycastihgs ch do not gravitate from? vthe'moldscan be vj rred loose. j

Atv stations 1 and `2,` 'the molds arep'artial-llyl en;- closed by a hood |46 (Figs. -1 and 20)*lra`vingA an outletl 41 connected'with a suctionlfan. Thedhocd MU is supported by an anglev ironv frame having Vertical members |42 supported-bytheoorand horizontal members |4-3- attached; to a Vluzacket |44 attached to sleeve 910 which; as stated before, is supported upon rotating sleeveV 8T (Fig. TJ ;J By reason of the connection of sleeve Sllwith 4the hood, the sleeve 90' is prevented. from: rotating.

The hood `is closed at the outer end' byf af plate |45 extending nearly to; the; noorand'atith inner end. by a, shorterplate; |46. I Thefsides; oft thegvfood provide openings HV1U` through i whiolrthe molds and mold frames; can; pass.v Chain curtainsl (Fig: 23).- are suspended. across these:` openings. so

'f Referring to Fig: 24 which is 6 asi'to. retard the escape of: particles.l of dust blown from the mold surfaces and particles of soot from the mold sooting flames.

Plates |45"and |46 support pairs of: horizontal pipes and.y |160. Pipes: |;5|lv are respectively connected with vertical pipe I5| closed at the lower end and' having rows of. small holes atl |52 whichfdirect the passage of compressed air towardthe faces of the two molds Sli-3 and Sil for the purpose of. cleaning the molds.A Pipes |50 are closed' at their outer ends'by caps. |52- (Fig. 22) and their inner ends are connected by hoses |53 with. aivalve. |54` shown diagrammatically in Fig. 2.4.. By'mfeansto be: described; valve |54` is operated" .automaticallyr to :cause compressed air to flow'from the perforated' pipes I5| while they are being received between pairs of open molds. Since' molds 93 and. $4 may vary in thickness it may be necessary to adjust the pipes I5| so that the` best: coverage ofthe die faces will be obtained. For this purpose, the pipes are slidable throughr collarsi |55-'retained by clips |56 on a plate |51 through which the pipe passes. vPlate |57 has vertical slots |-5.'a receiving screws |571) receivedalso by vertical slots |580J of plate |55. Inthis way plate |51 can be adjusted vertically and horizontally relative to plate |45 and, when secured in adjusted position nuts |570 (Fig. 22) threaded on the screws |515 are tightened. The pipe |50 can be moved horizontally relative to the collars |55 and secured in adjusted position by tightening; screws |159 threaded through these collars.

The pipes |60 for conductingthe gas, which is used when burning to.: soot. the mold faces, are connected" witl'r. vertical perforated pipes ll, represented by- *circles in Fig. 24. Pipes |60 are adjustably supported in the same manner as pipes. |50 and are connected by suitable hoses with a: gas valve` |64' ('Fig. 24), which isk operated in-a. manner to bek described to permit the flow of" gas. topipes |50 during the time that the open.. molds receive between them the vertical pipes: which extend' from the pipes itil. The gas when thus admitted is caused to ignite by heat derived from a wire: |10: (preferably nickelal'loy) which is: caused to be heated byr passage oielectricalt current. Wire |10 is protectedv by plateelike.r heat resistant* deectors shown: di'- agrammatically at HOA from `the sooting haine. a` cam diagram, o isthe center or axis.- of. counterclockwise rotation of'hub35 and the radial. lines marked Sta. l, etc., represent. stations pastk which the mold Y pairs arefmoved. Arc ||12frepresentsthe location ofi valve. handles H25 required to condition valves |02.'v (Figs. 'ffior forward. or outward movement ofithenrovable-molds 9.3;.Y Arc. MEN represents the' location of handles |:|:2.` in neutral position at. which; time', no pressure is: being` applied to either operror close the molds. and arc |2zf represents the-location ofjhandles |12 required to condition valves |02 forbackwardor'inward` movement ofi'vmolds: 932'. Circles H2r represent' handle positions in: conformi-ty with theV status of the movable: molds as shown-in'Fig. l. Cam rods H3 land H3A and H3. which are vlocated relative to xed sleeve. (Fig. '1)A control. the positions of handles |.|.2. During movement of the separated molds from station l2 through station 4, handles y| 2 are retained by alocking cam rod- IJC' so that handles. l lfjcannot' yaccidentally move from the position inwhich valves. i|01 are conditioned to maintain separation. of' the. molds. This is a safety feature vforfthe. core.l setter and also. as.-

sures that the molds are open during cleaning and sooting.

As shown in Fig. 7, xed sleeve 50 supports cam SC for controlling switches CSI and of Fig. 26, one of these being shown in Fig. l. Each switch has a roiler T which a spring in the switch urges against switch cams SC. The movement of the rollers r is actually vertical but, in Fig. 24, this movement appears as horizontal. When a roller 1 is on the lower part of a cam SC, the associated switch is closed; and it is open when roller r is on the high part of the cam SC. Switch CSI is closed during the time when the open molds passing station l receive` between them the air jet pipes I5l. Switch CS2 is closed during the time when the open molds passing station 2 receive between them the gas jet pipes iti supported vertically by pipes iiiij The gas igniting het wire I'i'll is located relative to pipes Mii, as shown in Fig. 2e. The cams SC are adjustable vertically and radially to control bot period and time of operation of switches CSI and CS2. i

Referring to Fig. 26, wires i, 2, 3 connected with an A. C. source are connected by manual switch SW! with wires la, 2.a, 3a which are connected by magnetic switch SW2 with wires ib, 2b, 3b when its coil C?. is energized. Wires Ib, 2b, 3b are connected with motor E83 which operates the suction fan or blower which. causes cirn l culation of air to cool the molds. Wires ib, 2b, 3b are connected by magnetic switch SW3, when its coil C3 is energized with motor 5t which operates the machine.

Wires Id, 2d, 3d connected 3a are connected by magnetic switch SWA, when its coil C-fi is energized, with wires ic, 3e. Wires Ee and 3e are connected with a starting transformer ST connectedxby wires If and 3f with wires lb and 3l) respectively. Wire'Ze is connected directly with wire 2b. Intermediate terminals of transformer ST are connected with wires and 5 which are connected when coil Cli is energized. Wires I f, 2e, 3f carry the current for starting the motor 80.

Wires 2d, 3d, are connected with primary pI of a transformer TI whose secondary is connected with wires II, I2. Wire II is connected by push switch FB2 with wire Ila .connected oy air pressure switch PS with wire IIb. By closing push switch P153 coil C3 of switch SW3 is energized through a circuit which includes in series wire i2, thermal switch TSA, wire -I2a, thermal switch TS3, wire I2b normally closed push switch PS5, wire I2C normally closed vpush 1 llc, `switch switch PBfi, wire I2d, coil C3, wire PBS .when closed, wire. Ii'b; switchl PS when closed, wire ila and normally closed switch PE2'. C3 is energized to effect closing or"v switch SW3 to connect Amotor 55 with wires lb, 2b, 3b, which carry current when switch SW2 is closed to sup ply currentto motor IM. When switch SW3 is closed a by-pass is completed around switch PB3.. Motor 53 will stop when either of switches FB2,

PE4, PS5 are opened, or when either of switches ,1. TSS, TS2, heatedrespectively by heatersha, ha

open dueto motor overload, or in case of failure of the supply `of compressed air for operating the air servo motors ofthe machine thereby causing switch PS to open. i l

When cam controlled switch CSI closes, coil C? of relay' switch SW1 is energized by virtue of connection with wires IIaand l2 to cause switch SWE to connect wires I aand I2 with solenoid S1 of air controlvalve |54 to cause said valve with wires its, 2a, i..

to open to cause air to be admitted to pipes It for the purpose of blowing dust from the faces of the separated molds.

When cam controlled switch CS2 closes, coil C8 of relay switch SWB is energized by virture of connection with wires I Ia and I2 to cause switch SW8 to connect wires Ila and I2 with solenoid S8 of sooting gas control |54 to cause said valve to open to cause gas to be admitted to pipes i60 for the purposes of soot-coating the mold faces. The sooting gas is ignited by the hot wire coil IID which receives current from the secondary s2 of transformer T2 whose primary pI is connected by manual switch SWB with wires 2b, 3b. The wires connecting coil I'IIl with secondary s2 passes through supporting rods Ill of non-conducting, heat-resisting material and provided with heat dissipating iins I'I2.

To start the motor |30, push switch PBQ is momentarily closed to cause coil CEE of relay switch SWE to be connected as follows: wire Ii, switch PBZ, wire Iia, switch PBI, wire I3, coil CB, wire I4, thermal switch TS2, thermal switch TSI, wire I5, wire I2. Switch SWS closes to connect wire Ila with wire I3, thereby ley-passing switch PBI which can be released, and to cause coil C4 of switch SWA with secondary Si of transformer TI through the following circuit: wire I I, switch PE2, wire I Ia, wire I3, normally closed contacts I of electric timer ET, wire Il, coil Cri, wire I8, normally closed contacts I9 of switch SW2 wire I4, thermal switches TS2 and TSS, wire I5, wire I2. Switch SWA closes its normally open contacts to complete connections with the starting transformer ST and opening its normally closed contacts thereby disconnecting wire I from wire 20 connected with coil C2 of switch SW2.

Motor 2l of timer ET is energized through the following circuit: wire II, switch FB2, wire ita, switch SW6, wire I3, motor 2l, wire i8, contacts I9, wire I4, thermal switches TS2 and TSI, wire I5, wire I2.

Timer ET shown diagrammatically in Fig. 25 comprises the motor 2| which drives a speed reducer represented by gears 290, Zili which drives a shaft 282 which drives a magnetizable clutch vmember 203 having a thin brass face 255i against which magnetizable clutch disc 2te is drawn, when magnet coil 2Im is energized. Disc 2235 which is splinedly connected with a shaft 2st, is normally urged by a spring 201 against shoulder EU8 of shaft 205. Magnet coil Zim is enclosed by a fixed yrnagnetizable shell 2&9. Shaft 2.35 is connected with a lever 2li! which a spring 2li connected'with lever 2 i!) anda nxed support 2H@ urges against a pin 2I-2 which is langularly ad- 'justable about the axis of shaft Ziii. Lever 2li] is adapted to engage a spring blade 213 connected with'wire I3 and carrying contacts Iii and 22 engageable respectively with contacts. When the timer times outv lever 2H) has moved to engage lever and separate contacts I5, it and to engage contacts 22, 22. Whenthe motor 2i and the magnet coil 2-I'm rare open-circuited, the timer is reset meaning that the magnetic clutch is disengaged and spring 2I I returns the lever 2ID to the pin 2I2 and blade 2&3 separates com tact 22 from contact 22 and engages contact if with contact I6'.

Timer ET times out after a certain time sufficient for the blower motor i to attain that speed at which it is proper to apply full voltage to motor IBB. When contacts I6, is' of timer separate coil C4 ofswitch SWA is deenergized and switch SW4 returns to normal status. Then coil C2 of switch SW2 becomes energized through the following circuit: wire II, switch PB2, wire lla, switch SWS, wire I3, contacts 22 and 2|', wire 23, coil C2, wire 20, normally closed contacts 24 of switch SWA, Wire Ill, thermal switches TS2 and TSI, wire I5, wire I2. Switch SW2 closes its normally open contacts to connect wires I a, 2a, 3a with wires Ib, 2b, 3b so that full voltage is applied to motor |80 and to complete a bypass around contacts 22, 22V of timer EI* and to open normally closed contacts I9 thereby deenergizing motor 2| and magnet coil 2|m which causes the timer motor to stop and the timer to be automatically reset. When contacts I6, I8 reclose, coil C4 of switch SW4 is not re-energized because contacts I9 of switch SW2 are then open. Switches SW2 and SW4 may be mechanically interlocked so that the normally open contacts of one switch can not be closed While the normally open contacts of the other switch are closed. Motor |80 is stopped by opening switch PB2 or by the opening of either of overload switches TSI or TS2 heated by elements h1 and h2 respectively.

The circuits for starting motor |80 and causing it to run on full voltage are not by itself a part of the present invention. However, when motor |80 is stopped by opening switch PB2, current no longer flows to motor 50 and to the gas igniting coil |19, and coil C3 is deenergized and switch SW3 opens and no current ilows to valve solenoids S1 and S8 and valves |54 and |84 close to shut off blowing air and sooting gas, although switches CSI and CS2 might be closed when the machine stops. The overloading of motor I 80 causing one or both of the thermal overload switches TSI, TS2 to open will cause cessation of current flow to motor 50 and to gas igniter coil |10.

The system requires that motor |80 be started and brought nearly to full speed before motor 50 can operate. This insures that air will be circulating about the molds before the machine can be operated or the sooting gas ignited. The current passed by the transformer ST to wires If, 3f would not be suiicient to start motor |80 and also eifect any operation of motor 50 if switch SW3 were closed and to effect any material heating of wire |10 if switch SWS were closed during starting of motor |80. Therefore the procedure is to close switch PBI momentarily and wait for motor |80 to operate at full speed before closing switch SW5 and closing switch PB3. The closing of switch PB3 will not cause motor 50 to start even after motor 80 is running at full speed, if the source of compressed air for operating the air-servos of the machine is not operating or has not been connected by opening a valve with the air manifold of the machine.

Switch PBS represents a plurality of switches in series placed in various readily accessible positions for stopping the machine in emergency. For example, a switch PB5 is readily accessible to the operator who places the cores in one of the molds so that he may stop the machine in case there is difficulty in placing the cores properly in the time of travel of the molds past the core setters stations.

Secondary S2 of transformer T2 has a plurality of tops so that the voltage applied to coil can be adjusted to suit the material of coil |10 or the temperature of the air surrounding the machine.

While the embodiment of the present invention as herein disclosed, constitutes a preferred form, it is to be understood that other forms might be adopted.

What is claimed is as follows:

1. A control system for a permanent molding machine having a plurality of molds operable sequentially from closed to open position, a cooling device for the molds and driving means for causing sequential operation of said molds, including a source of electric current, a starting circuit for the machine, a first switch operatively connected with said source and connected in said starting circuit for controlling the operation thereof, an energizing circuit for said coiling device, a second switch connected to said source and connected Yin said energizing circuit for the cooling device for controlling the operation thereof, an energizing circuit for the driving means, a third switch operatively connected to said source and connected in the energizing circuit for said driving means for effecting operation of the driving means to cause sequential operation of the molds, and a circuit operatively interconnecting said three switches constructed and arranged so that the first switch must be in the closed position before the second switch can be closed, and the second switch must be in the closed position before the third switch can be closed.

2. The combination with a permanent molding apparatus comprising a plurality of split molds sequentially operated from open to closed position, said molds being carried by a turntable whereby continuous operation of the apparatus is progressively maintained, means for opening and closing the molds, driving means for the turntable, and Ventilating means for cooling said molds, of an interlocking electric system for said apparatus comprising a source of electric current, a starting circuitfor said apparatus, a first switch operatively connected to said source and connected in said starting circuit for conditioning the apparatus for operation, an energizing circuit for the Ventilating means, a second switch in the energizing circuit for the Ventilating means and operatively connected to said source for controlling the operation thereof, an energizing circuit for said driving means, a third switch operatively connected to said source and connected in the energizing circuit for said driving means for controlling the operation thereof, and an electrical circuit operatively connected to said source and with each of said three switches for controlling the operation thereof, said last-named electrical circuit being constructed and arranged so that the second switch cannot be closed until the rst switch is closed, and the third switch cannot be closed before the second switch is closed.

References Cited in the le of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,493,469 Candler May 13, 1924 1,725,984 Jenson Aug. 27, 1929 1,746,236 Barton Feb. l1, 1930 1,752,308 Pettis Apr. l, 1930 1,856,352 Morris et al. May 3, 1932 1,913,945 Morris et al. June 13, 1933 1,925,496 Nichols Sept. 5, 1933 1,925,497 Shippy Sept. 5, 1933 2,348,173 Young May 2, 1944 2,459,892 Palmer et al Jan. 25, 1949 2,474,963 Wessel July 5, 1949 

